Baseball tournaments bring season to a close

HILLSDALE — For the sixth straight year the Hillsdale Parks and Recreation Department hosted the Field of Dreams Mid-Summer Classic 14 and under baseball tournament.

This year’s tournament saw the second most teams ever with 10 teams competing in three divisions. Teams began action Thursday night at Field of Dreams and Hillsdale High School.

“Hillsdale High School has always helped us out with the use of their fields,” said Michelle Loren, Hillsdale Parks and Recreation Director.

The final game Sunday afternoon came down to the Jackson Jax and Clinton Comets. The two teams met in pool play Saturday with the Jax winning 11-3.

The Jax got the best of the Comets in the championship game winning 9-4.

After trailing the majority of the game the Comets got on the board in the fifth inning after Kyle Stealgrave hit a homerun over the left center field fence.

Stealgrave said it was his second career homerun.

The homerun was the first one hit at the Field of Dreams in four years.

The championship game was the last of the season for the Jax who finished a 15 game stint 13-1-1.

“I am very proud of this group of kids,” said Bob Wright, Jax coach. “The parents and fans have been really supportive throughout the season.”

The fields at Field of Dreams will be filled with the sounds of summer again this weekend as Hillsdale hosts the Field of Dreams Late-Summer Classic for 12 and under and 10 and under teams. The tournament will feature 21 teams, 14 in the 12 and under division and seven in the 10 and under.

“This tournament has exploded on me, it is one of the biggest I have ever hosted here at Field of Dreams,” said Bill Mullaly, tournament organizer.

Clinton Coach Nick Pizzo complemented Wright on his running of the tournament after the game.

This weekend’s tournament will begin at 5 p.m. Friday with the first set of games at Field of Dreams. The championship game will be at 9 p.m. Saturday.

The tournament will feature 10 and under teams from Hillsdale and Jonesville. It will also feature a 12 and under team from Quincy.

For the first time in the tournament history Hanover and Vandercook will play an 11 p.m. game.

Mullaly said the two coaches came to him and asked to play the game at 11 p.m.

In the 14 and under tournament Hudson won the Silver Bracket championship 10-8 over Vandercook.

In pool play Clinton won the Gold Pool, Battle Creek won the White Pool and Jackson won the Blue Pool.